Comparison of high-intensity ultraviolet and NB-UVB on the maturation of melanocytes derived from hair follicle neural crest stem cells

Abstract

Both high-intensity ultraviolet and narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) are important therapeutic options for vitiligo management, but high-intensity ultraviolet is more effective than NB-UVB. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been well investigated. Herein, we compare the effects of high-intensity ultraviolet and NB-UVB on the pigmentation of melanocytes derived from hair follicle-derived neural crest stem cells (HF-NCSCs) in vitro and study the underlying mechanisms. The HF-NCSCs were isolated from mouse whisker follicles. After radiation with high-intensity ultraviolet and NB-UVB, respectively, the cell viability by the CCK-8 assay showed gradual inhibitory effects in a dose-dependent manner, which has no apparent difference between the two modalities. The mRNA for melanogenesis factors such as tyrosinase and tyrp1 of the differentiated melanocytes increased significantly with high-intensity ultraviolet compared to the same dose of NB-UVB exposure. Furthermore, the expression of Mc1r was significantly increased by high-intensity ultraviolet in contrast to NB-UVB at the dosage of 0.5 J. By and large, these data suggest that high-intensity ultraviolet exhibited greater efficiency on the maturation of the melanocyte lineage differentiated from HF-NCSCs compared to NB-UVB with the same dose, which was probably due to the stronger stimulatory action of Mc1r. This may provide new insights into the different efficacies of high-intensity ultraviolet and NB-UVB in the treatment of vitiligo repigmentation.